Hi, Erin,

WHAT A GREAT TIME TO BE A NOVELIST!

How can that be? Gone are the days when the Big Five publishing houses are ready to hand out six-figure advances. The number of slots on agents’ rep sheets and publisher’s schedules are vanishingly few. The competition for those slots is fierce and sometimes even unfair.

But the old model of publishing isn’t the only model anymore. It isn’t even the best model. Today:

• You can write the novel you want without having to cram it into traditional molds.
• You can keep more ownership of your creative vision than ever before.
• You can learn the business of publishing, gather a readership, and keep the profits for yourself.
• You can experience the delight of satisfying YOUR audience (and yourself).

And of course, you can still pursue traditional routes if that’s your heart’s desire! Anything is possible. I’m so happy you’re writing your novel TODAY.

In fact, I’m so excited that I’m finally launching a monthly newsletter just for you to add value to your creative adventures.

What my newsletter won’t be: slick, shiny, or salesy. Sorry, those just aren’t my gifts. What it will be: FUN and HELPFUL. In each newsletter you can expect:

• A short video to help you improve your writing immediately.
• Answers to other questions clients are asking me.
• Resources to help you level up your mad skills.
• And other fun items that I think you might like (including evidence that I am a terrible proofreader).
  

I hope you enjoy these tidbits each month. If you do, I hope you’ll forward this newsletter to fellow novelists who might also find it valuable.

It’s such a treat to walk alongside you and support you. Thanks for the treat, and your trust.

REGISTER FOR THE NOVELISTS’ BOOK CLUB (COMING IN FEBRUARY)

I’m forming a club just for fiction writers, where we’re going to read books and talk about the craft, creativity, and consequences that are the bedrock of storytelling. Come and gain:

• New skill sets from published examples.
• New ideas from inside and outside your favorite genres.
• New connections with peers.
• New appreciation for what makes novels beloved—and sometimes bestsellers (besides hype and algorithms).

On the third Monday of every month starting February 20, join me on Zoom from 12:00 to 1:00pm Mountain Time for the best book club you’ve ever attended.

• FEBRUARY 20: None of This Is True by Lisa Jewel (psychological thriller). Discussion: the pacing and revelation of important information, the distinctions among mystery, suspense, and thrillers, and the nuances of reliable vs. unreliable points of view.
• MARCH 17: Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin (upmarket) Discussion: “literary,” “upmarket,” and “commercial” fiction—what’s the difference?—and what all genre-defying fiction needs to appeal to most readers.
• APRIL 17: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros (new adult romantasy). Discussion: how a new generation of readers is transforming genres, story values, and content.
• MAY 19: The Briar House by Kate Quinn (women’s fiction/historical murder mystery) Discussion: How conventional and unconventional point-of-view usage shapes a story.

FAQ

• "Is there a fee?" Nope! Attend for free (and for fun).
• “Do I have to read the book?” Nope! I’ll provide the context you need for the conversation to make sense. But if you read the book, you’ll get more out of the meeting.
• “Is this book club only for clients?” Nope! If you’re a novelist or aspiring novelist, you can come. (Let your friends know.)
• “Am I going to have to talk?” Nope! But I’ll encourage chats and invite participants to share their views. (Who wants to listen to me drone for an hour?)
• “What genres and authors are you going to cover?” As wide a variety as possible.
• “How do I join?” Sign up here.

BETTER WRITING NOW

Do you know how to change your passive sentences into active ones? If not, check out this video (7 min.) to make your writing more clear, fluid, and vivid.

QUESTION FROM A CLIENT

“Can I use AI to write my novel?”

Yes . . . and no. I’m all for using tools that make your storytelling better, more readable, and maybe even prettier.

Generally, I advise writers to use AI to improve content that you have created and uploaded. Prompts such as these can help you teach your favorite AI what you want it to do for your work:

• Please improve my writing.
• Please fix my grammar.
• Please replace my adverbs with more vivid verb phrases.
• Please make my second paragraph sound more like my first paragraph.

Using AI for brainstorming ideas is useful too, but remember that AI generates content based on existing ideas. Don’t let AI rob you of the satisfaction of doing the creative work that is truly fresh.

And definitely DON’T use AI to generate content for you, which could jeopardize your future in such places as the Library of Congress and Amazon.

Read the Author’s Guild guide to best AI practices here.